Chapter Three

Be it as it may. I was a prisoner here. No training, no preparation was going to get me over that fact. The prestigious Blue Moon Pack now stood as nothing but the solid mark of the very beginning of my pain. The world had gone mad. And the Alpha I was supposed to be pledged to for a lifetime was now my captor.

I had was dealing with the loss of my parents in the most painful way unimaginable. Night after night met me with new streaks of tears, and at dawn, a expression of pretense. I didn't care however I wore it. I just hoped not to cry before anyone.

I didn't plan to do anything that would have been offered to me earlier, but the Alpha, using my brother as a bargaining cheap, that sure worked out fine. I knew I stood no match for most of the shapeshifters here. Besides, I was raised to be a princess, and not a warrior.

A princess.

To me, that was a lifetime ago. All that was gone now. I was just some werewolf fighting for her existence, the survival of her brother, and potentially the freedom of both of us.

It was snowing when I stepped out in my wolf form. It's how I normally identified with the night. Most days saw me now like that. Growl, instead of whimper. It was better that way.

With paws deep in the snow, I walked on all fours, and my furs danced to the wind. My eyes glowed orange, and steam issued from my nostrils each time I exhaled. My heart did pound with rage, pain, betrayal, and a sorrow unlike anything I had ever witnessed. It was how I was able to deal with pain anyway.

But I needed to train myself in the ability for stealth if I was to prove myself worthy. Worthy or not, I had been trust into a mission that may most likely get me killed. I wasn't cut out for this. Princesses don't become warriors over night. The Alpha who did this, how could I make him pay?

In the shadows, I stalked. My ears I used to listen for anything, but I heard nothing save for the whispers in the wind. I should find him. I had been separate from him all day. Maybe, not all day, but he was the only family I had, and I just needed to talk to him to let him know that everything will be fine.

Maybe, it was a lie, but what better way was there to give my brother hope, than to lie? I saw none.

Unseen, I moved, and between houses I listened for anything. I perceived the air, hoping to smell something, but only cold air rushed into my lungs. It had to be the snow. It was masking our scents, and most werewolves I realized would be in the comfort of their houses cooling off, and enjoying the night with their partners.

Partners. How silly? My supposed to be partner killed my parents. How will I ever get over that fact? Or perhaps, I wasn't supposed to get over it, I guess.

Werewolf sentries paced around the camp, the trees were my only friends. Like a ghost, unnoticed I moved, even though I knew I wasn't used to this yet.

Silent I moved between trees and buildings till I finally got to Mark.

He had his back to me, and his body was shaking. I transformed, and walked up to him, and he was startled when I touched him.

"I'm sorry," Mark said, and briskly wiped his eyes. "I didn't see you there."

Neither did the guards. I didn't need to ask him what he was up to. I knew the pain in his eyes even as he tried to conceal it. I couldn't show him that I was hurting. I was the eldest, and I needed to be strong for him.

I sat down next to my brother, and I could feel the heat from his body.

"Does it ever end?" Mark asked.

I looked at him, wanting him to explain further.

"The grief?" he added.

I shook my head and stared forward. "No." I was knew to this. I didn't know anything about anything. I had heard of werewolves and people losing their parents all the time, but mine was absolutely different. Being killed by your supposed mate did suck. And it hurt a lot.

"I don't see you crying," my brother said.

The cold had left nothing but rage inside me, for my tears had frozen up. Around Mark, I would think, but I won't cry. Alone, that was worse. It was the only time I could show off my tears.

"There are different ways to express pain, Mark," I said. "I don't need to cry the way you do for you to know. You're the only family I have left. If we both cry, who comforts whom."

He must have read deep into what I said, for in that moment, he looked at me and asked, "Who then comforts me?"

I put on a weak smile. "Did you hear about the training today?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

"I see what you're doing. You're trying to change the topic."

"I'm just trying to let certain things lie. The walls have ears, you know. We are now in enemy territory."

"And they are about to send you off even to another one."

"I know."

"You think because you were able to put Stephen down, and do a few exercise moves that it halts the true danger here? No. This is the Silvercrest Pack. The Blue Moon is vicious, but the Silvercrest Pack, they sense spies from miles away. Unless you hope that they will treat you as some kind of lost, wandering werewolf. No doubt, your story will be like the others."

"Do you even understand?" I asked.

"Understand what?"

"Do you understand that I am doing this for you? Yes, I may be stupid, but if you look around us, brother, you'd see that we have little hope of surviving, talk more of escape. That's if I'm stupid enough to want to put up a fight. The Blue Moon Pack, our parents set up that nasty arrangement, and the spirits agreed to it because it was supposed to see to the protection of our pack—"

"From packs like the Silvercrest," Mark finished for me. "Oh, I see it. I see it clearly, trust me. I am his captive—"

"We are both captives. You are the only thing he can use to order me around now."

"But you will get yourself killed. You will surely be discovered, and you will be..." He sighed, and closed his eyes. "It's difficult trying to picture you all bruised, bloody, and messy. It will be terrible."

"What then do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Escaping isn't a bad idea. Luggard is only looking for a way to dispose of you because he senses we are a threat to him. You were never with the men of our pack when we trained. They told us things like this. Well, not all of it. But most of this. It's all strategy. They know the pack you're from, and probably these other packs haven't gotten word of what has happened to our packs. When you're caught, the Blue Moon Pack could deny sending you because in truth, you're not really part of them, and you will have no solid claim to back your evidence. And the Silvercrest, knowing this, won't be eager to go against the Blue Moon Pack because to them, it will all be some kind of misunderstanding. That's what they will say at least. And they will bury that issue while you will become the prisoner of another dangerous pack. Or if things go against you, then you may most likely be facing execution, and the potential execution of the rest of our pack scattered all over. What then do you think will be my fate? I'll tell you. The Blue Moon Pack will kill me and others like us taken captive, and they will bury us to hide evidence. And like that, we would cease to exist."

"I don't think you've really thought about this, Mark," I said. "I mean, all you see is the negative aspect. We were caught, in the process of an escape. Remember. After our sad, and painful defeat. Remember that. We can't do anything. True. All what you said is true. But for our sake, and for the progress of seeing this through to the end, think well for me. If the Silvercrest Pack does catch me, then so be it. But I will make sure I don't go down without a fight. I will be with them, learn their ways, and all that I need to, then I will find an opening some day, and I will flee to give this pack the news, and free you."

Mark's eyes bored into mine. "Sister! He may not free me. He may just use me to keep ordering you about. See why you need a better plan."

In truth, I hadn't thought about that. I felt so foolish. Damn it, I wasn't cut out for this. Espionage, and all that nonsense. That was the duty of those who trained as warriors. I knew how to care for a home, and raise beautiful babies. Well, I wasn't sure, but I had been told about the process even though I hadn't tried it.

There was one positivity though in all these...whatever this was. I was no longer the Blue Moon's Alpha's mate. I couldn't imagine myself sharing a bed with the killer of my parents. Nothing would have been more infuriating. Truthfully, it would have...I don't even know. But I'm glad that is all over.

"You are my primary concern, Mark," I said. "I know I may be stupid. I know I may have to start thinking like a warrior, and no longer like a well bred werewolf meant for royal function. This is war, brother. And you're mine to protect. At least, so far I'm stronger than you, which I think I'll always be."

He laughed.

And I was pleased that he did.